Forest Coach Lines

Forest Coach Lines

Parent Next Capital
David Royle
Commenced operation 1 March 1930
Headquarters Terrey Hills
Service area Kuring-gai
Ryde
Willoughby
Northern Beaches
Mid North Coast
Service type Bus services
Depots 3
Fleet 121 (October 2016)
Chief executive David Royle
Website www.forestcoachlines.com.au

Forest Coach Lines is an Australian bus and coach operator in the northern suburbs of Sydney and from 2016, on the Mid North Coast in New South Wales.

History

Custom Coaches bodied Mercedes-Benz O405NH at Sydney Olympic Park in March 2013

In March 1930 Eric and Trevor Royle trading as Royle Brothers, purchased routes 56 Chatswood station to Roseville Chase and 201 Roseville station to Roseville Chase from E Jones with three buses. In October 1941 the first service operated across the Roseville Bridge to Terrey Hills.[1][2]

In March 1947 route 52 Chatswood to Artarmon was purchased but quickly sold in November of that year.[3] From the late 1940s the Frenchs Forest area expanded rapidly and by 1960 the Royle Brothers fleet had expanded to 12 buses.[1]

The operation was renamed Forest Coach Lines in February 1964 and relocated to a new depot in Belrose. In May 1965 route 201 ceased. An expansion into coach charter saw Forest Trailways established with a separate depot in Manly Vale. Eric and Trevor Royle retired in the mid-1960s with the Trevor's sons Bernard and Tony taking over.[1]

In 1973 services were extended to Warringah Mall and in February 1982 to Duffys Forest. In August 1979 a new depot was opened in Terrey Hills to replace those at Belrose and Manly Vale.[1]

The Passenger Transport Act 1990 allowed Forest Coach Lines to commence operating services into the Sydney central business district in July 1992.[1][4] In August 1991 the Warringah Bus Lines operation was purchased from Shorelink[5] and in July 1998 part of St Ives Bus Service was purchased.[6][7]

In November 2012 it was announced that Forest had been successful in retaining the contract to operate Sydney Bus Region 14.[8][9]

In December 2014, a majority shareholding in the business was purchased by mid-market private equity firm Next Capital.[10][11]

In September 2016 the business of Manly Coaches was acquired with no vehicles.[12] In November 2016, the Mid North Coast business of Ryan's Bus Service was purchased with depots in Coffs Harbour and Woolgoolga.[13][14]

Fleet

Forest Coach Lines built up its fleet with Leyland buses. In 1972 it placed the first Volvo in Sydney in service. Since then most purchases have been on Volvo or Mercedes-Benz chassis. In March 2013 two Bustech CDi double deckers were introduced. As at October 2016, the fleet consisted of 121 buses and coaches.[15]

When the business was renamed Forest Coach Lines in February 1964, a new white and green livery was introduced. These remained the fleet colours until 2013 when as part of its new regional bus contract Forest was required to adopt the Transport for New South Wales white and blue livery.[16]

Routes Operated

External links

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 History Forest Coach Lines
  2. ↑ New South Wales Bus Operators and Fleet Listings. Sydney: Historic Commercial Vehicle Association. 1993. p. 53.
  3. ↑ Manny, Leon B (1985). Terminus Please. Sydney: Historic Commercial Vehicle Association. p. 60. ISBN 0 959601 63 5.
  4. ↑ "Services" Fleetline September 1992 page 173
  5. ↑ "Ownership changes" Fleetline February 1992 page 35
  6. ↑ "Ownership changes" Fleetline July 1998 page 131
  7. ↑ St Ives Bus Services, Australian Bus Fleet Lists, Accessed 24 March 2014
  8. ↑ Cut costs or bus contracts will go to private sector, minister tells drivers Sydney Morning Herald 7 November 2012
  9. ↑ Mixed Result for Private Bus Operators Bus & Coach Association NSW 7 November 2012
  10. ↑ Next Capital finalises Forest Australian Financial Review 8 December 2014
  11. ↑ Royle Family Sell Forest Coach Lines Transitgraphics.
  12. ↑ Home Manly Coaches
  13. ↑ Contact Us Ryan's Bus Service
  14. ↑ Family owned Coffs Coast bus company calls it a day Coffs Coast Advocate 3 November 2016
  15. ↑ Forest Coach Lines Australian Bus Fleet Lists
  16. ↑ Blue over green Forest Coach Lines buses Manly Daily 11 January 2013
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